Pipe joint



2 Sheets-,Sheet l J. L. RAY

PIPE JOINT Filed Dec 24 May 8, 1945.

4 Q mi May 8, 1945.

J. L. RAY4 PIPE JOINT Filed Dee. 24, 1942 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 Patented May 8, 1945 UNITED)STATES PATENT OFFICE James L hay, ,Elm jGrove, Wis., assigner `tofAl'lissMannfactui-ing Companivlilwaiikee,

LWis.,` a corporation of Delaware ,App-ligation December 24, 1942, serialvNp. 469,983 spasms.' (crass-(13o) This invention relates generaliy to-ihign .teniperatu're .elastic iiiuid conductors and .more ,parA ticularly Lto a swing jointfconstruction interconnecting the y'adjacent .ends of conductors for I.other elements for .relative angular' movement about commonaxis., m

The invention is particularly'sapplicable, l

though inno manner =limitedto. combustion gas turbine Asystems vin which :the motive uid conductor or conductors are subjected ,to extremely high :and rapidly. changing` temperatures.fr

swing joint constructions :hereto'fore'common'ly employed underisuch conditions nsualiyembody relatively movable, massive pants-which are sub jected to a bending '.actionpr'oduced bythe rela-- tive expansion of suc-h `parts in-response-toeirtreme and rapid variations-in temperature and 'las a result. lsaid parts and the conductors connected thereto are frequently oversti'e'ssedysometimes to the point jor ffailure. In any yevent,such frequent kovi'e'rstressing of vparts conducive-to fai1urejand it is therefore the primary"object 'of this invention to provide animprovedswing (joint construction 'which is relatively light and 'extreinely .durable and which is; operative 'Without overstressng interconnected and relatively jinetable parts whensuljected togextrerneli7 highland rapidly changing ternperatures irrespfiive ofthe eXtntvOf-ienpreturechange y In accordance with'thlis .ivritiondth above stated ,object and/ orfeatures. thereofmay` be accomplished by a construction embodying ,a pair of spaced coaxial elementlsfeach, adapted :for cani-- nection with-the end.ofatluid vcoriltvsluctor,,gte.nsive means pivotally ,interconnecting Eelernents for Jrelative mov-ement axially ,--of and singularly y about. a common-axis, .an vannu-larV sealing surface on one of said members, and an annular sealingr means .engaging rsaideseali-ng surface. This si-Inplifled construction materiailyreduces manufacturing,v installation and replacement costsand 'therefore another object of this invention is fto provide ya swing Ajoint :constructionl emi:oolgying;` one or more of the improvements hereinbefore `set forth. l f

The invention accordingly-consists of the varie ous features of construction, combinations of-el-e-` ments and arrangements ofvpa'its as is more Aiully set forth in lthe 'appended )claims `and the; detailed description; reference being hadto'the ac' companying drawings, lin which: 1 *is a plan viewof a gas -turbnesys 'in' necessitating and embodying fs'wineiot-j l Fig. v2 isa partial sidevi-ew of thefsystem shown in'Figly v .Referring tongs. 1 3.inclusivepfinegiegings, it --is 'seen' that .a v'gas turbine system`embedying v the`A invention may include afcompressor el having air :inlet and discharge connections 2 and 3., ree "spectively, .ja Agas turbine A1idr-ir-irigly .connected with :said compressor yand .having Ainlet ex haust connections 6 and respeetiiely,v clone gated combustion "chamheri having a' fue 9 int-heend 1B thereof,.a cond-uit inecting, the discharge 3 of Asaidgcoi-n ressor' theburner end W of the combustion hamper@ for suplzlyinigaan` thereto, and va; conduitgmeans il? connecting `the .opposite or v4disch-argey.end, .f *the combustion; chamber f8 Y withgtloe *eintalg the turbine ,14 for 'supplying `motii/- e .fluid t .The compressor rl 4and the exhaust engi turbine 4l are nxedly secured ,weer su table means `l such as vthe bolts Mfand .l 6,jrespect blistion chamber Bis pivotally moun d oinimember 22; ,the base ,member leslie xediy xsecliredio ,the foundation I 1 liyany, suit.- able .means `sx1-chas 'bolts 2.3, therebyprfeyenting a iongitudin-al movement ofthefbu'mcr end 'f said combustionchamber. Theinlet endet Vthe turbine andthe discharge ,end L3 oi l the c5:oinloi1's.` tion rcham-ber gare slidably mou MVd pedestal members 24 .and 215;resine-etiveiy, 5V ich ,are turn lixedly'seoured tothe-foundation I vloy suitable means (not shown); t r ,i 1 'The burner .Jendw of the conduit ,means lv-I embodies therein aswing joint connection 21 'placement of l the swing joint connections erably identical 33, respectively, flanged ends with flanges 36` l of the turbine 4, respectively.

of Velements 29 I spaced flanges complementary concave permittingA the hereinabove specified angular movements of the combustion chamber 3; the opposite end of the conduit means I I being xed `to the compressorr discharge 3 and if desired said conduit means may'embody therein a flexible portion (not shown) permitting longitudinal expansion and contraction. thereof relativeto the compressor vI .and the swing joint connection Y21. Both ends of the conduit means I2- include a swing joint connection 28 permitting angular f movements of the conduit :means I2 relative to i the' discharge end 8 and relative to the inlet'connection or end `t I3 of the combustion chamber of the turbine 4. The burner en'd I0 of the com# bustion chamber 8 can moveV angularly butfnot'. longitudinally and the discharge end 1 of the turbine 4 cannot move either' angularlyor longi l tudinally. Consequently, longitudinal expansion of the combustion chamber 8, of the' conduit- ,temperaturelimita said means usually embodies meansIZ/and 'ofthe turbine 4 will effect a dis-y the elements similarto thatrillustrated to an exaggerated degree by the dotted i lines in Fig. 4, in which like numerals are used ,e

to, designate the' corresponding elements' and in which the full lines represent the coldV positions 1 of thefelements, and it should therefore be obi vious that such'a displacement ofY the various l elements necessitatesthe'use of thel swing joint connections 21v and 28, as hereinbefore indicated,

Kin order to prevent overstressing of intercon- 5 nected parts.

' Referring also and 31-`on the discharge endl I3 of the combustion chamber movement by means of openings 4Iv and are faces ofthe flanges-38 and 39 by nuts 43 having convex underside surfaceportions k44 seated in depressions 46 formed about the openings 4I. The flange 39-hasfa co- I axially extending collar portion 41 which is spaced l Afrom the adjacent side of flange'38 has removably secured thereon, as byI 48, a surrounding sealing 3 member 49 having on its inner surface a plurality 2 of axially spaced grooves 5I in which are disposed 1 carbon seal rings 52 and snap rings 53vacting to hold the carbon rings 5I in engagement withthe the flange 38 `and the means of cap lscrews collar portion 41 on the Vflange 39.l The grooves 5| are-preferably made of greater axial width than the carbon rings 52 in order to prevent the ringsfroin` sticking in said grooves and the meml ber 49'is also provided with a radially extending to Figs. 5 and 6, it is seen that 28 which are pref; l y in construction, may comprise la y pair of spaced coaxial elements -29 and 3I having i l their remote ends provided with f1anges32 and adapted for connection with the 1 the vconduit means I2 and g air admission duct 54 which terminates in .one`

of said grooves (preferably'the second one from the :Harigek 38) so that air forcedvthrough tain Ythe upper ring 52 yin Fig.r 6, thereby causing the major portion of the air to ow past the upper seal ring andinto .the

space 56 provided between the upperend ofv con` 1 Sd i duct at a'pressure equal to or higher than Vthatl of the motiveuidwill act to positionand mainthe position shown in` lelements 29 and 3 lar 41 and the underside of the flange 38. The

remainder of the air may flow or leak around the remaining seal rings and pass to atmosphere through the space 51 provided between the underside of the member 49 vand the upper side of the flange V39.

The oombustiongases passing through the conduit means I2 are extremely hot and inorder to prevent unnecessary heat losses and to maintain the outer wallfof the conduit means within safe av lining 58 as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3; said lining forming with the outer cooling iluid receiving space 53.l Consequently,

when the swing joint connections are embodiedl vin conduit means of this type, the swing jointis also'provided Awith a similar continuing lining structure which, in the illustrated constructionyv comprises axially spaced lining sections 6I and 62 secured to the flanges 38 and 39, respectively, ory

the elements 29 and 3i-by any suitablemeans such as the axially spaced annular disks 63 and 64. The space 65 provided between the disks 63 and 64 places the motive fluid passage defined by the inner surfaceofsections r6I and B2 incommunication with the space 56.. The opposite ends f of the lining sections 6I and'62,whichzare lnot shown inthe interest of simplicity, may, if desiredbe connected with the flanged portions `3.2 andf33 of the elements 29 and 3|, respectively,

vinthe same manner as just described with respect to the other ends thereof. v y f VIn operation, theexpansion ofthe turbine 4 and the, expansion and displacementof the conduit means I2 and the combustion chamber 8 eiecta relative angularmovement of the ele-v mentsv29 and`3l-comprisingthe swing joint conf nections 28, such moveme without materially stressing interconnectedr parts due to what is'in effect thevspherical seating con-y nection betweenthe tensive members, that is, the

bolts 42`,`and the flanges 38 and 33, and duek to 'the alined openings 4I being ofrgreater diameter .than the, vbolts l42, which permits tilting .of the tensive membersv circumierentially relative tothe flanges 38 and 39.- In otherjwords, the flanges 38 and39 of elements29 and3l', respectively,'are

in effect provided with'ipairs of axially spaced pivot supports (the pairs kof' oppositely Afacing depressions 46) and-the tensive'members (bolts 42) each has' oppositefend-fportions (the convex surfaces 44) mounted-topivot 'on a lpair of'supports-in response to a relative movement 'ofthe Ifaxiallyof or angularly about a common axis.- A -relativeangular movement of the elements-29r and-3I-results in a tilting movementy of the tensive members and consequently an axial movement of said elements Atoward or away from each other depending uponthe y position of said elements and tensive members when such relative movement occurs; said axial movement yand the longitudinalexpansion and contraction. of said elements being. permitted by the anges 38 and '39 thereof lbeing axially spaced apart as shown. In this connection, ithshould also be noted that the sealingmeans lcorn-1l prising'the collar portion 41, the sealing mem ber 49 and carbon rings 52Y permit both anangufvk lar and an axial movementV of the element s29 and l3| and are jcontinuallyeifective during suchmovements. f i

The modified l construction 'I shown infrFigs. 1 and 8 differs from that just described only in the manner of eiecting a seal/'between' the'rela'tively f movable elements comprising the swin'gljoint wall an insulation or y t being effected to designate-corresponding part's fin the interest of simplicity In.this`-connecl'lion, it shouldwfbe noted that the flanges 238 "and 'of elements :2'9 and f3.|, respectively," are provided-with `axially spaced opposed surfaces, .one of i-whichj `lili, Vcon'- -stitutes a sealingsunface andsthelother of which, 81, has formed therein-radially Vspaced Leoncentric grooves 68 in whichare'disposed carbon seal rings V|59 .and a .series of. compressionsprings .1| acting to hold the .carbon `.rings in `continuous engagementI with the'sealing .surface C516. `.Additional ysealing 'means is :also fprovided iby means of. l'an axially :extendinglair admission duct .is

formed .inthe flanjgcifil y:and which ,terminatesiin a circumferential .groove .gfm'med .in ict-he. sur- Iface I616 ybetween 'the portions `thereof '.engagedfby the carbon rings |59. rThe .surface 6.1 :being pref:- erably provided with anopposed groove M which coacts with the groove 13 and aids in distributing the incoming yair 'throughout the space between the rings 69. This modied construction aiords all of the advantages particularly pointed out with respect to the construction illustrated by Figs. 5 and 6, and a further description in this connection is deemed unnecessary for a complete understanding of the invention. p

The modied construction illustrated by Figs. 9 and 10, in which like numerals have been used `t designate corresponding parts, is a, departure from that shown in Figs. '1 and 8 in that a diierent means is employed for effecting a seal between the relatively movable elements comprising the swing joint, and in that said elements are pivotally interconnected for relative angular` andA axial movements by a different typeof .tensive member. In this connection, it should benoted that the flanges 38 and 39 of elements 29 and 3| respectively, are provided with axially spaced opposed sealing surfaces 16 and 11, respectively, between which is disposed an annular bellows type sealing means formed by axially spaced flexible disks 18 and 19 welded or otherwise secured togetherat their inner and outer edges to form therebetween a pneumatically sealed chamber 8| into which a fluid such' as air under pressure may be introduced through an axially extending ducty 82 formed in the ilange 39 Aand an enlargedalined opening .83 formed in the disk 19. The ilanges 38 and 39 of elements 29 andl 3| may slide on the abutting surfaces of the disks 18 and`19, respectively, and the flexibility of said disks may be altered by varying the pressure of the iluid admitted to the sealed chamber 8| formed therebetween. In this modication, the tensive members interconnecting the anges 38 and 39 of elements 29 and 3| comprise links 84 which may ybe pivotally connected with the flanges 38 and 39 by means of stud bolts 86 which extend through apertures 81 formed in said link's adjacent the ends thereof and which have shoulders or enlarged portions 88thereon, at least one of which is of less diameter'i than an aperture 81, therebypermitting a circumferential tilting of said links relative to the flanges 38 and 3 9 without effecting a binding or twisting actionthereon. This modified construction also functions t0 effect all of the results and advantages particularly vpointed out with respect to the construction illustratedby Figs. and 6, and a4 further description in this connection is also deemed unnecessary for a complete understanding of the invention.

The swing joint connection designated 21 may embody the novel features of the constructions hereinbeiore described and whether the connec,

`connections fof this'type embodying the invention may fbelemployed =inf1condi1it sys-tems Where `tlesired irrespective of whether l:said systems embody lined Ior unlined or fjacketed conduits: ilnrltilis connection;theconduitymeansill shown' as ordinarywconduit.asince the temperature iofxfthe compressed air. :is yusually too ilow to warrantlininglo'r 'ja'cketing vsamen-The invention is-"applicable-:to all types, of .conduitsystems-necessitating connections permitting relative angular` and :axial movementlbetweeen inte'rconnectedielements,y -and should-'therefore be iunderstood thatialthough the invention-*has been shown :and described` rin connection with laf-gas s turbine -systemgit yis -not in -anyimannerfso limited'an-d thatit isno't xde-r sired to limit the @invention .to Athe exact details of construction herein shown and describedgfas various modifications withinthefscope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to Patent:

1. A swing joint construction adapted to connect the adjacent ends of alined fluid conductors secure by Letters for limited relative movement both axially of and circumferentially spaced, axially extending memy bers tensively connected with said remote parts for substantially free pivotal movement thereon as said elements move axially of or angularly about said common axis,'and means for maintaining a sealing connection between said proxilmate parts of the elements irrespective of their relative displacement. 2. A `swing joint construction adapted to con-l nect the adjacent ends of alined iluid conductors for limited-relative movement'both axially of and angularly about acommon axis incidental toA their relative expansion and contraction while in use Acomprising opposed annular elementsv havingm parts coaxially disposed in proximate-and in relfv mote spaced relation with respect to each other and with respect to vsaid common axis, a, plurality of i circumferentially spaced, `axially. extending members tensvely connected with said remote parts for substantially free pivotal movement thereon as said elements move axially of or angularly about. said common' axis, a plurality of spaced rings for maintaining a sealing connection between said proximate parts vof the elements irrespective of their relative displacement,` and` means for admitting fluid under. pressure to the space between a pair of said rings.

` 3. A swing joint construction adapted to'connect the adjacent ends of alined fluid conductors for limited relative movement both axially of and angularly about a common axis incidental `to their relative expansion and contraction whilein use comprising a pair of-spaced coaxial annular elements presenting adjacent opposed surface portions, a series of circumferentially spaced tensive` members each having opposite end portions inter- `connectingly mounted tor pivot on remote opposed portions of said elements in response t a rela.-l tive movement o-f larly about a common axis, and bellows type packters '11 and 2s are `made .simi-1er yor .f'dirferent :is v

the elements axially of or angul relative movement of the elements axially of or ing lmeanssealingly 'connecting the adjacentop.-

angularly about a. common axis incidental yto Ytheir relative expansion andr contraction while in /use comprising a pair of spaced coaxial annular elements,.a series of circumferentially spaced'tensive members each havingopposite end vportions interconnectingly mounted to pivot on remote 2 opposed portions of said elements in response to a .l

angularlyabout a common axis, means-carried by one of said elements dening a coaxial sealing l surface, and a coaxial vskirtportion carried by the other of said elements and'havingV its free lend i. portion telescopically engagingvsaid sealingsurface. f

5. A .swing Y 4.V Av svi/ingv jointfconstruction adaptedto con- 5 nect the adjacent ends of alined fluid conductors i for limited relative movement both` axially ,ofiand posedv surfac'eportions of said elementsfor re1a... f tive movement axially of and angularly about said point construction radapted. to con..

nect the adjacent ends of alined fluid conductors fory limited lrelative movementv both-axially` of and angularly about alcommon axis incidental-to their relative expansionand contraction Whilein use comprising apair of-spaced coaxial annular elements presentingaxially spaced opposed peripheral portions havingjalined openings therethrough terminating in Voppo'sitely v'facing spherical recesses, interconnecting tensive-members extending;through the alined openings in sai-d peripheral portionsand having endvportions provided with spherical seating; surfaces mounted to pivotl in said recesses inrespo-nse to a relative movement of .said elements axially. of or angularly abouta common axis, acoaxial. sealing surface on one of JAMES L. RAY. s 

